Course Aims
This course is packed with key tools and techniques to get better business results. From setting clear goals, developing a plan, communicating and influencing through to dealing with Change, you will be equipped with simple steps to ensure that you keep control of your project all the way from Definition through to Delivery.
Target Audience
Anyone involved in medium or long term assignments who wish to enhance their level of success through the application of core Project Management techniques.
Benefits of Attending
Having attended this event you will be better able to:
- define a project plan
- set up key roles and responsibilities
- plan and estimate
- devise communication strategies
- get results from others
- track progress
- negotiate changes
Course Style
This course is extremely past-paced and highly interactive, with focus on real workplace issues. Theory sessions will give suggested approaches, and these will be translated into practical on-the-job ground-rules and tips.
Session 1 INTRODUCTION AND PARTICIPANTS’ OBJECTIVES
Introduction of participants, tutor, objectives and logistics.
Session 2 GET THE START RIGHT: PROJECT DEFINITION
Expectation Management, that’s what its all about. This session outlines what to agree, with whom, and how to get commitment and backing.
Session 3 SETTING UP KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key tips are required for managing contribution to projects. This session covers tips for managing:
- project sponsors
- the project customer
- the project team
- third party suppliers
Session 4 PLANNING & ESTIMATING TECHNIQUES
People either over or under-plan. This session helps you to get it right and plan appropriately. Topics covered include:
- breakdowns in planning
- deliverable-focused planning
- tips for estimating
- 7 key steps to getting it right first time
Session 5 COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES THAT WORK
A superb plan is often thwarted by breakdowns in communication. Success is only ensured through having a communication strategy within a project, both for one-off and regular communication events. This session outlines what to do to make communication work and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Session 6 HOW TO GET RESULTS FROM OTHERS
We often require others to deliver, but often do not manage them directly and are dependent on their voluntary co-operation. Most projects are completed within a matrix of management, and this session shows how to define workloads, allocate tasks and ensure commitment.
Session 7 KEEPING AN ACCURATE VIEW OF TRACKING PROGRESS
The US military regularly told ex-President Reagan that the Star Wars programme was on target. A week before delivery day they revealed that it would be a year late. This session shows how to ensure you know exactly what is happening and what the implications are.
Session 8 KEEPING YOUR NERVE: CHANGE MANAGEMENT
“The Role of the Customer is to Change the Goalposts”. This cryptic view is not far from the truth, the best Project Manager does not implement the original plan, but professionally manages changes to the plan en-route. This session outlines:
- change management best practices
- how to negotiate changes with the customer
- how to negotiate changes with the sponsor
- keeping the team on track and motivated
Session 9 COURSE REVIEW AND CLOSE
